Nicholas a



N. A HULL. SEWING MACHINE TABLE TOP.

(No Model.)

No. 591,474. Patented Oct. 12,1897.

top and the usual drop-leaf thereof to pre- UNITED STAT PATENT FFICE.

NICHOLAS A. HULL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORTO WILLIAM C. FOLEY,

or sAME PLACE.

SEWING-MACHINE TABLE-TOP;

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Ifatent N8. 591,474, dated. October 12, 1897.

Application filed December 1'7, 1896. Serial No (N0 11105913 To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NICHOLAS A. HULL, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

The present invention relates to a made-up table-top for sewing-machine stands, in which the pieces of wood composing the top are joined together with a view to prevent warping, as well as to produce a cheaper top, and yet have an appearance equal to the more costly tops; and the present improvement has for its objects, first, to provide a simple, strong, and durable construction fora sewing-machine table-top that involves a sectional formation of such table-top to admit of the formation of the usual opening at the center of the same for the sewing-machine and yet preserve unimpaired the strength and rigid ity of the table-top, as will hereinafter more fully appear, and be more particularly pointed out in the claims; second, to afford asimple, cheap, and efficient formation and arrangement of the transversely-extending strip or cleats at the ends of a sewing-machine tablevent warping, &c., of such top or leaf and at the same time impart to the upper surface of the same the appearance of being made of a continuous piece of wood, with the grain thereof running the whole length of such table top or leaf, as will also hereinafter more fully appear, and be more particularly point- 7 present invention; Fig. 2, a longitudinal section of the'saine at line a m, Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a transverse section of the same at line wos', Fig. 1;Fig. 4, an enlarged detail section at line 00 00 Fig. 1.

Similar numerals of reference indicate like parts in the several views. I 1 1 As represented in the drawings, the present improvedtable top will be formed of longitudinal outer pieces 1 and 2, that extend the length of the table, and middle pieces 3 and 4, between the adjacent ends of which is left a space or opening 5 for the sewing-machine. These pieces will be of substantially the same width and will usually be butted and glued together in the usual well-known manner, the main dependence being, however, placed upon the following improved construction.

6 are transverselyextending. strips of a less and 2,. while the middle portions of such strips occupy recesses 8 in the inner and adjacent ends of the respective middle table-top pieces 3 and 4. By this improved construction the jointure of the table-top pieces around the usual sewing-machine opening of the tabletop is effected in a very-strong, substantial,

and durable manner without liability to' displacement under severe or hard usage.

9 are the transversely-extending cleats by which the table-top proper, as well as the usual drop-leaf 10, are tied together at their ends in a firm and substantial manner. Such cleats will have for this purpose the usual reduced portion or tongue 11, fitting in a transverse groove formed therefor in each end of the table-top or drop-leaf. In the present invention the transverse cleats 9 will be of an L shape, consisting of a head portion 12, of less thickness than the tabletop or dropleaf, and the'reduced portion or tongue 11, o

heretofore described, and in connection with this improved form of cleat the table-top or drop-leaf will have a corresponding construction-to wit, a long extension 13 at top, covering the whole surface of the'cleat 9, and a shorter extension 14 at bottom that only covers the tongue 11 of said cleat, as very clearly illustrated in detail Fig. 4 of the drawings. This improved construction not only affords a very strong and substantial means for strengthening the ends of the table-top or drop-leaf, but also admits of a uniform surface being retained at the upper or top surface of the table-top or drop-leaf, with the grain of the wood extending the whole length of the same in a uniform manner.

15 are the usual belt-holes of a sewing-inachine table-top that in the present invention are made to pass down through the outer longitudinal pieces or members 1 and 2 of the table-top and also through the intermediate transverse strip 6, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings. Vith the improved construction any liabilityto checking of the wood is avoided in that the grain of the wood in the transverse]y-arranged pieces extends in a direction at right angles to the direction of the grain in the longitudinally arranged pieces, and in consequence of such arrangement all tendency to checking is avoided in the present form of table-top.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A sewing-machine table-top, comprising in combination, longitudinal outer pieces 1 and 2, middle pieces 3 and 4C, the combined length of which is less than the said outer pieces, transverse strips 6, attaching the inner ends of such middle pieces to the outer pieces, and end cleats 9, attaching the outer ends of such pieces together, substantially as herein described.

2. A sewing-machine table-top, comprising in combination, longitudinal outer pieces 1 and 2, middle pieces 3 and 4, the combined length of which is less than the said outer pieces, transverse strips 6, fitting mortises in the outer pieces, and grooves in the middle pieces, to attach the inner ends of such middle pieces to the outer pieces, and end cleats 9, attaching the outer ends of such pieces together, substantially as herein described.

3. A sewing-machine table-top, comprising in combination, longitudinal outer pieces 1 and 2, middle pieces 3 and 4, the combined length of which is less than the said outer pieces, transverse strips 6, fitting mortises in the outer pieces, and grooves in the middle pieces, to attach the inner ends of such middle pieces to the outer pieces, cleats 9, attaching the outer ends of such pieces together, and belt-holes 15, extending through the outer pieces 1 and 2, and through the transverse strip (3, substantially as herein described.

1. A sewing-machine table-top, or dropleaf, comprising in combination, the top or leaf proper, and a transverse end cleat J, the cleat having an L-sha-ped formation, comprising a tongue 11, and a head 12, and the end of the table top or leaf having a long extension 13, covering the whole surface of the cleat, and a shorter extension l t, covering the tongue 11, of the cleat, substantially as herein described.

In testimony whereof witness my hand this 1-Lth day of December, 1896.

NICHOLAS A. IIULL.

In presence of- ROBERT BURNS, TM. II. ScoTT. 

